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Work begins to improve NC 12 on Pea Island

News Release
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation on Monday began reducing the incidence of over wash and standing water on N.C. 12 in the Outer Banks just north and south of the temporary bridge on Pea Island in Dare County. The project, which involves raising and leveling the elevation of the road, is scheduled to be complete by the end of November, weather permitting.
One lane of N.C. 12 will be closed while work is taking place. Flag crews will direct traffic through the site.
Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling in the area and to expect delays. NCDOT reminds motorists to watch signs for construction information, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit.
NCDOT is working with Parsons Construction Group and their paving subcontractor, RPC Contracting, to level the road surface and raise the elevation of N.C. 12 at this location up to 18 inches on the ocean side (northbound lane) and six inches on the sound side (southbound lane).
N.C. 12 is banked north and south of the temporary bridge with the lower side of the road on the ocean side. Occasional over wash has taken place this fall and in previous years at this location near New Inlet. Over wash historically has been the result of various factors, such as off-shore storms raising wave heights, high tides and full moons, pressure gradients and heavy rains.
While ocean over wash is not a regular occurrence and has not resulted in any recent closure of N.C. 12, the department has had to shut down a single lane of the road in the past in order for traffic to safely pass through the area.

For real-time travel information at any time, call 511, visit the NCDOT traffic website or follow NCDOT on Twitter. Another option is NCDOT Mobile, a phone-friendly version of the NCDOT website. To access it, type “m.ncdot.gov” into the browser of your smartphone. Then, bookmark it to save for future reference.